The White House will host a UFC event this weekend after a federal judge ruled Friday to allow the proceedings to move forward, shutting down a lawsuit that sought to block the festivities. The elaborate ring already built on the South Lawn will host UFC Freedom 250, a fight card featuring two title bouts, including Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje.
The event marks a milestone in the UFC's decades-long journey from fringe promotion to the White House. Yahoo Sports traces the sport's ascent to the 1990s, when it was labeled “human cockfighting” by a U.S. senator. Dana White, making his first appearance as UFC president at a modest “Battle on the Boardwalk” event 25 years ago, has since shepherded the organization into the political spotlight.
Sunday's card features seven scheduled fights. CBS Sports experts have weighed in with picks and odds, including predictions for the two headlining title fights. The main event pits featherweight champion Topuria against Gaethje, while a second championship bout will also be contested on the South Lawn.
A single source reports that former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre is expected to attend the event in a coaching capacity, though the details of his role remain unspecified. The card will begin Sunday evening at the White House, with no other major UFC events scheduled for the same window.
Opponents of the event argued in the legal challenge that staging a for-profit fight card at the White House raises ethical concerns about the use of public grounds for private business. The judge's ruling did not address those merits, simply denying the request to halt the event.